Try Avoiding These 10 Things if You Have Tinnitus

There are few conditions that are more difficult to understand for those who don’t have tinnitus. The problem with tinnitus is that if you are not afflicted with it, you won’t see, feel, or hear the symptoms in the same way you would other conditions.

Tinnitus is a very real and extremely challenging experience for the almost 50 million Americans who have it. Tinnitus is best described as ringing in the ears, but according to the American Tinnitus Association, it can present sufferers with whistling, hissing, swooshing, clicking, and buzzing. These sounds aren’t perceptible by others and that could be the most discouraging part of tinnitus, which can lead to disorientation, delayed diagnosis, confusion, and depression.

The number is really astonishing when you take into consideration that 15 percent of the overall public suffers from tinnitus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that around 20 million of those individuals have what’s known as burdensome chronic tinnitus, while another two million suffer from symptoms that are severe and debilitating.

There’s a common connection between loss of hearing and tinnitus, which is why people often turn to hearing aids to enhance their hearing and to drown out the ringing. There are commonplace things you can do to reduce the ringing along with wearing hearing aids.

If you have tinnitus here are 10 things to avoid:

Alcohol; Your cholesterol and heart health can be positively affected by drinking a small glass of wine each day, or so the old saying goes. But with regards to alcohol and tinnitus, you can have too much of a good thing. For some people drinking too much alcohol makes tinnitus symptoms louder because it tends to raise your blood pressure.

Unsafe blood pressure levels; If you want to keep your tinnitus under control you should monitor your blood pressure which can also help protect you from other ailments. It’s important to note that both high and low blood pressure levels can make your tinnitus worse, so you should be careful about routinely checking your blood pressure.

Particular medicines; Over-the-counter medicines like aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be very good at soothing pain, but they could actually increase your tinnitus symptoms. There are other prescription medications including antibiotics and cancer drugs that can also have an impact on tinnitus. However, you should always consult with your doctor about any issues you’re having before stopping a prescribed medication.

Loud noises; This one most likely seems obvious, but it’s worth repeating that loud noises can worsen the sounds you’re already hearing internally. Be careful of scenarios where you’ll be exposed to sounds at an increased volume. This includes concerts, loud restaurants, and construction sites. Consider protecting your ears with earplugs if you can’t steer clear of the noise. People who have loud jobs are particularly benefited by ear plugs.

Caffeine; Once again, a rise in tinnitus levels comes along with this influence due to a rise in blood pressure. You will probably notice a change in sleeping habits if you consume too much caffeine.

Infections; Since a lingering cold can quickly turn into a sinus infection there has always been commentary about the need to find a cure for it. Make certain you’re limiting your exposure to ear and sinus infections because they have can worsen tinnitus.

Smoking; Smoking is another habit that can increase your blood pressure. In addition, it can shrink the blood vessels to the ears, which can cause tinnitus symptoms to get worse.

Excess earwax; There’s no doubt that earwax serves a beneficial role in the grand scheme of how your ears work. But actually dirt is trapped and our ears are protected by this sludge that we hate. That being said, too much accumulation can make tinnitus worse. Your doctor may be able to help you reduce some of the accumulation and supply prevention tips to ensure it doesn’t build up to an unsafe level again.

Poor sleeping habits; When mom said you should get your eight hours of sleep each night, she wasn’t joking. Sleep is another crucial aspect of healthy living that offers a wide variety of benefits, including helping to avoid tinnitus triggers.

Jaw issues; You should contact a doctor if you have jaw pain and even more so if you have tinnitus. Minimizing jaw pain may have some impact on your tinnitus because the jaw and ears share nerves and ligaments.

Even though there’s no official cure for tinnitus, there are ways to manage the symptoms and take back your life. Give these 10 recommendations a shot, and you may be surprised with the improvements in your symptoms and your overall health. If these don’t help, set up an appointment with a hearing care professional.